Page 12 of Drowning in Sins
Rosalyn was a full-blown obsession. She could’ve worn a paper sack, and her body would’ve still called to me. I wanted to see if her skin was as smooth as it looked. To touch her and feel her body against mine. With every passing day, the ship seemed to get smaller and smaller. She was everywhere. The dreams felt so real, and that was therealproblem.
It was like Iknewher.
Even from the bridge, I could see her with the research team below on deck. I watched as she peeled off the wetsuit and grabbed a towel to wrap around her. It was a warm day, but I knew the depths of where we were would be cold.
“Want me to take over?” Joe entered the room.
I turned to look at him. “Actually, yeah.” I’m sure my eyes looked tired; my smile probably didn’t reach them. Too many distractions. “I could grab some lunch and more coffee.”
“Not sleeping well?” he asked.
I laughed. “Something like that.”
“I’ll be good up here for a while if you want to try to grab a nap.” He walked over to the screens and looked over some of the numbers. “It’s like riding a bike.”
“I may take you up on that.” My smile was genuine that time, then I took the stairs down to the deck.
The wind was picking up, and with it, larger waves. It rocked the boat until there wasn’t a space that didn’t creak with the movement. TheMaribethhad been through it before, and I wasn't worried she couldn’t handle things. There was just a different static in the air this time.
It was enough to keep my eyes open and my brain alert as I stared out the windows of the lower levels until I was back on the deck and leaning against the railing. The occasional mist that came from a wave filtered through the air until the taste of salt coated my lips.
I kept my eyes to the setting sun as it lowered itself into the water. Like the waves were rocking the bottom of it gently, coaxing it down. Until the warm colors were lower in the sky and the cooler ones stretched across us. I watched until the final part of the burning sun dipped below the horizon. It reminded me of when I was a boy and would watch the sun set and hope to witness the green flash of light.
The air became thick instead, filled with static. Not a breeze could be heard as the ship stilled beneath me, and I closed my eyes. I nearly held my breath at the sound of soft approaching footsteps. The scent of whatever coconut product she used came closer, mixing with the salty air.
“What’s that?” Rosalyn questioned quietly next to me.
I opened my eyes to glance at her, then looked to where she was pointing. Alarm bells went off in my head as I swallowed, while the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. The final shred of light from the sun had disappeared. The stars in the sky and lights from the ship were the only source of illumination around us.
Only, a ship in the near distance lit itself up as if painted to glow in the dark. Moments later, not a single wave came from it as it passed by a little too closely. Sails torn and somehow flowing in the still air. I watched for half a second before turning to face Rosalyn.
Her eyes met mine, and when she started to look back at the ship, I grabbed her face between my hands and forced her eyes to stay on me.
“Don’t look.” My eyes narrowed. “It may be superstitious, but we don’t want to invite anything aboard.” It was something else my grandfather used to say. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen something I shouldn’t have, and I doubted it would be the last.
She could barely shake her head. “I want to look though.”
“Don’t.” I swallowed. My hands cupped her face, my thumbs brushing across her soft cheeks, then jawline.
“I need a distraction.” Her brows pushed together. Her eyes flickered between mine, and I could see how easy it would be for her to turn around and peer at the ghost ship.
I exhaled before bringing my face down to hers, my fingers tangling in her damp hair as I brought her lips to mine. I regretted it almost immediately. There would be no way I’d wantto stop. I could kiss her forever. I brushed my tongue across the seam of her lips, begging for entrance.
Her hands rested on my forearms as she allowed me entry, deepening the kiss until the only thing either of us could surely focus on was the other. A moan escaped her, and I fucking swallowed it. I wanted everything. I wanted to devour every noise that came from her. My hands moved down her back until I was pulling her closer. If I could make it so she thought about me as much as I did her, I would.
My cock hardened at the thought. There would be no hiding it, as it pressed against her stomach. I wanted her. Her legs shifted apart, and I stepped one of mine between them and pushed to be closer. My hands squeezed her ass, and she rocked against my thigh.
I’d never be able to get enough of her. Not with the way she fit against me like a glove. I’d never considered the idea of someone being meant for me; it seemed made up. If there was a god out there who controlled who ended up with someone, then surelythismeant something.
My father told me my mother was the love of his life, even if they didn’t end up together in the end. It never made sense to me. Growing up, I didn’t know anything different. She was around, but notwithmy dad. Not like she was with her husband. I’m sure it had something to do with me and Frederick, so we’d grow up more like brothers.
There was something about Rosalyn, like my soul knew hers. If there was going to be a love of my life, I wanted it to be her. I couldn’t share though. That would be a nightmare I couldn’t wake from.
I’m not sure how much longer this erotic embrace went on—time ceased to exist. I finally pulled back when I felt the breeze on my face. A quick glance around us and reality splashed overus. The ghost ship was gone, and the commotion of dinner below was a welcome interruption.
Chapter Eleven
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